BT4Europe, which represents 12 travel buyers organisations
across the continent, has published its recommendations to the European Commission
regarding passenger rights in multimodal journeys ahead of the consultation period’s 14 March
deadline.
The organisation expressed its “unwavering support” for multimodal
travel – defined as trips involving more than one form of transportation – as
the European Commission seeks to develop regulation on passenger rights for
such journeys.
BT4Europe recognises the “inherent benefits of combining
various modes of transportation, particularly in the context of business trips,
where air and rail travel seamlessly coalesce,” it said in a statement
published today, pointing to potential cost savings and lesser environmental impact.
It has published four recommendations concerning passenger rights.
Firstly, reimbursement necessitated by disruptions or cancellations should
be returned to the original payment method used for the ticket purchase. In the
case of corporate-funded travel, refunds should be issued to the company.
Its second point, acknowledging existing disparities in current
reimbursement rules among different modes of transport, is a call for cohesive
regulations and “consistency and fairness” across the industry.
Thirdly, BT4Europe believes providers of travel services and
intermediaries, including booking platforms, should not be able to exclude
complaint handling and reimbursements for multimodal tickets in their terms and
conditions.
Lastly, the organisation expressed the importance of the proposed
14-day reimbursement deadline outlined in the European Commission’s proposal.
“BT4Europe is committed to actively contributing to the
ongoing dialogue surrounding passenger rights in multimodal journeys,” said the
group’s chair Patrick Diemer. “By voicing opinions and recommending practical
changes, BT4Europe aims to facilitate the growth of multimodal travel while ensuring
a fair and transparent regulatory framework.”
Diemer urged interested parties to contribute their feedback
during the EC’s consultation period which ends on 14 March.